By: Surjit Singh Flora
Serving one of the fastest growing cities in the country, Brampton Transit is introducing a $15 discounted monthly pass for Brampton resident seniors 65 year of age and older. The discounted monthly pass will go on sale August 6 at all Brampton Transit terminals and facilities, and seniors can start using their discounted pass from September 1.
BRAMPTON, Mayor Brown and Councillors with city staff held an official launch event for a major milestone: the $15 Seniors Brampton Transit Pass at Flower City Community Campus, Seniors Centre 8870 McLaughlin Road South on July 5, 2019. with hopes of making the service free for the city’s seniors 65 and over residents as early as 2020.
Starting August 6, Brampton Transit will open temporary locations at City Hall and Gore Meadows Community Centre to allow seniors to get their Brampton Transit senior ID card, PRESTO cards, and purchase their Seniors Brampton Transit pass.
Can I continue to pay the $1 cash fare?
Yes. You can continue to take advantage of the Brampton senior $1 cash fare. Beginning September 1, 2019, this fare will also be available on PRESTO. You can load a dollar amount onto a PRESTO card and never have to worry about having a loonie available for your trip.
Can I continue to purchase the senior weekly pass?
No. Effective August 28, the senior weekly pass will no longer be available. The new discounted senior resident monthly pass offers unlimited travel for the entire month at a lower cost than a weekly pass.
The monthly pass will allow seniors unlimited travel during that calendar month. To get the transit pass, Brampton seniors must have a valid Brampton Transit senior identification card and a PRESTO card.
Photo: Surjit Singh Flora
The $1 cash fare for Brampton seniors will also be available on PRESTO beginning September 1. Regular senior weekly and monthly passes will no longer be available.
Brampton Transit is committed to providing affordable transit. Building on the Term of Council Priorities for Brampton 2040 Vision, staff will bring a report to Council during the 2020 budget process that will include options to implementing free fares for Brampton seniors.
“Continuing on our journey towards Brampton’s 2040 Vision and building a Green City, we’re committed to not only providing efficient transit service, but also a reliable alternative to driving. Our goal is to implement free transit for seniors in 2020. Our seniors have built our community, and it’s only fitting that they receive a break on transit passes. “said Mayor Patrick Brown
“Brampton City Council has set a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions generated in the city by 80% by 2050. As we work towards planning and launching better environmentally friendly policies and technologies, this is a great place to start – take more transit and reduce reliance on cars. With the new $15 month pass, I would like to encourage our seniors to get out and enjoy active living. This is a great opportunity to reconsider how you travel around the city and connect with people, places and events. “said Councillor Rowena Santos, Chair, Community Services
“Brampton Transit is continuously working towards enhancing overall service quality and customer experience. Introducing this new pass for Brampton seniors is one of several items in our 2019 customer charter that we’re committed to achieving. We encourage our senior residents to ride transit and experience the convenience of taking our buses.” Said Alex Milojevic, General Manager, Transit
According to a staff report at the March 20 meeting, the reduced $15 monthly seniors passes will cost the city an estimated $400,000 to $450,000 annually in lost revenue at current demand and service levels.
However, the report added that revenue hit could increase to between $600,000 and $700,000 by 2031 as Brampton’s senior population continues to grow.
Making transit entirely free for seniors would cost an estimated $1.2 million per year at current service levels, and as much as $1.8 million by 2031, added the report.
Council also voted in favour of making transit a little cheaper for Brampton Transit riders with disabilities by reducing transfer costs between the city’s local transit service and Peel Region’s TransHelp service.
In comparison, a TTC monthly pass for seniors’ costs $122.45.
While Brampton currently has the lowest senior fares for transit in the Greater Toronto Area. Furthermore, Brampton residents are eligible for subsidized passes if they are under a certain income level. Currently, only 176 seniors have passes are taking advantage of that program only so far.
